There were 268 active cases of COVID-19 among residents of the jurisdiction of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) as of Friday, April 30.  That is 89 fewer active cases than the 357 which were reported on Monday, April 26.

As of Friday, there were 28 COVID-19 patients in hospital across the EOHU’s territory and seven of those patients were in intensive care.

There had been 101 deaths due to COVID-19 across the jurisdiction of the EOHU as of April 30.

Restrictions

The provincewide shutdown and stay-at-home order is to remain in effect for the entire province of Ontario.  The Ontario-Québec boundary is also closed to all but the most essential traffic.  The restrictions are in effect until May 20.

Ontario statistics

As of April 30, there were 3,887 new, active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario.  According to calculations based on statistics from the Ministry of Health, there were 38,062 active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario as of Friday.

There were 2,201 COVID-19 patients in hospital across Ontario as of Friday.  Out of those patients, 883 were in intensive care, and 632 patients were on ventilators.

There had been 8,050 deaths due to COVID-19 across Ontario as of April 30, which was an increase of 21 deaths from April 29.

Vaccinations

As of April 30, 60,812 COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered across the jurisdiction of the EOHU.

According to Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, more than 9,000 doses were delivered across the EOHU territory during the past week, including 2,220 Astra-Zeneca doses at participating pharmacies.

“These clinics are running like clockwork right now,” he said.

Up to 270 people per day are being vaccinated at the clinics.

Effective April 30, COVID-19 vaccination appointments are available to all Ontario residents age 55 and greater.  Vaccination appointments will be available to all adults age 18 and greater across Ontario by May 24.

“We believe that these are reliable timelines,” said Roumeliotis.

He also anticipated that the increased vaccine supply will result in shorter wait times between doses.  Presently, it is four weeks.

Across Ontario, 5,139,984 vaccine doses had been administered, and 371,110 Ontario residents had been fully vaccinated by receiving both required doses as of April 30.

According to Roumeliotis, 58,000 more individuals across the EOHU’s territory are expected to be vaccinated by May 24.  That does not include vaccinations given at pharmacies or medical clinics.  The Astra-Zeneca vaccine is available at selected pharmacies to individuals aged 45 and greater.  However, as of April 26, the supply of Astra-Zeneca was limited and deliveries were delayed.

Within the EOHU’s jurisdiction, Ontario residents 55 years of age and older may book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment using Ontario’s online booking system. In accordance with the latest recommendations, those booking will be given appointments for first and second doses, 16 weeks apart.

Provincial Online Booking System

Ontario’s vaccine booking system is accepting vaccine bookings for individuals who will be turning 55 or older in 2021 (born in 1966 or earlier) in 2021. Booking is available at www.Ontario.ca/bookvaccine. Individuals who require assistance with booking can call the Provincial Vaccine Information Line at 1-888-999-6488.

The booking system will screen for eligibility based on age using health card information. Appointments can be made by an individual or with the help of family or an informal caregiver (note: family/informal caregivers born after 1966 cannot book an appointment for themselves at this time, however, they may use the EOHU Pre-Registration tool to pre-register for an appointment).

If you have a family member or provide care to someone who was born in 1966 or before, please encourage them to get vaccinated. Vaccinations will be available BY APPOINTMENT ONLY at vaccine clinics being held across the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry; the United Counties of Prescott-Russell; and the City of Cornwall. Alternate arrangements will be made for individuals who notify us of barriers preventing them from physically going to a clinic.

Institutional outbreaks

The following hospitals, long-term care, retirement residences, and group home facilities under EOHU jurisdiction also had COVID-19 outbreaks as of April 30:

St-Viateur Nursing Home in Limoges

Residence St-Mathieu in Hammond

Residence Cartier in Bourget

Caressant Care Nursing Home in Bourget

Community Living-Lasalle in Cornwall

St-Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre –Complex Continuing Care side in Cornwall

Open Hands on Gage Street in Cornwall

School closures

All schools in Ontario have switched to learning online indefinitely due to the significant number of new cases of COVID-19 among students in recent weeks.

EOHU COVID-19 case map, April 30, 2021

Map: Eastern Ontario Health Unit